PRCS Attends to 721 Persons Wounded During The March of Return

(Al Bireh - 28/4/2018): PRCS’ Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs) attended to about 721 Palestinians wounded in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip as occupation forces cracked down on protesters taking part in the March of Return on Friday and Saturday April 27, 2018.

PRCS’ teams provided first aid services to 624 casualties in the Gaza Strip alone, including 106 Palestinians shot with live ammunition, 369 tear gas suffocation cases, 1 rubber bullet wound, 71 tear gas canister wounds and 77 other casualties caused by shells, burns, falls and shrapnel. 

In the West Bank, the PRCS medical teams provided their medical assistance to 97 casualties,  including 78 tear gas suffocation cases, 12 rubber bullet wounds, 5 live ammunition wounds and 2 casualties due to beating by Israeli soldiers.

PRCS’ teams also evacuated the body of three Palestinians killed in the Gaza Strip.  

Moreover, in the Gaza Strip, the Society’s Psychological First Aid Team provided psychological support to 481 wounded Palestinians and their families to help them overcome their trauma and grief and regain their balance.

In addition, PRCS recorded 3 violations committed by Israeli occupation forces against its EMTs in the line of duty, with 1 PRCS’ member from the emergency medical teams due to a tear gas canister. Two  PRCS ambulances were attacked and sustained different damages in the Gaza Strip.  These practices constitute a crying violation of International Humanitarian Law provisions which call for the respect and protection of medical missions as well as for facilitating their work.

End.